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Definition of kudo

kudo

/ˈkuːdoʊ/
ku · do
Plural:kudos
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kudo Lexical Profile

kudo Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A compliment, expression of praise, or award given for an achievement.

Example

"The project manager gave her a special kudo during the weekly meeting for resolving the software issue."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kudo
Antonyms
View all antonyms for kudo

Word Nuance & Usage

"Kudo" is an informal back-formation created by misinterpreting the singular mass noun "kudos" as a plural; in formal writing, "kudos" is preferred as an uncountable singular noun.

• Rhymes for kudo

• Nearby Words

kuala lumpur
kuang si
kuban
kudo
kudos
kudu
kudzu

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1920s as a back-formation from "kudos" (mistakenly perceived as a plural noun), which itself derives from Ancient Greek "kydos" meaning "glory" or "renown."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kudo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kudo
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